The air was stale and stank of old urine mixed with a harsh odor that reminded me of burned plastic.
I walked into the cave side by side with Bear. She sniffed the air currents and bared the edge of her teeth. Yeah. Right there with you.
The cave was empty. I’d hidden the dial in my backpack. I was pretty sure I could reset it, and a portable impenetrable barrier might come in handy.
We reached the far wall. A dead end on the right, a dark passage leading off to the left. We turned left, then right, through a short hallway, and walked into a small room. A light source glowed on the wall, an apple-sized crystal shining with weak yellow light and wavering almost like a torch. It was on its last legs.
Below the light, a creature lay tied to the wall by some sort of metal cord attached to a collar around its neck. It was close to Bear’s size and sheathed in thick grey fur. A fluffy tail the color of smoke curled around it, hiding most of the animal from view. All I could see were large triangular ears, tipped by tufts of bright red fur like those of a lynx.
A low snarl rumbled in Bear’s mouth.
“Shh,” I told her.
Was this a pet? A guard dog equivalent? If so, what was it guarding? There was nothing in the room.
The creature’s ears had ragged edges as if something was violently torn out of them. Dried blood caked on the rims. Whatever it was, it hadn’t been treated well.
I flexed. The beast was alive and breathing, but my talent didn’t tell me anything more and the gem stayed silent, too.
I took a careful step forward. Another.
The animal lay still. That wasn’t normal. It had to have heard me. Those ears weren’t just for show. It was deliberately choosing to ignore my approach.
Another step.
One more.
The fox-thing lunged at me. It was lightning fast, but I expected it and shied away. Dark claws raked the air an inch in front of me, so close they fanned my face. The collar jerked the fox back.
Bear shot forward.
“Stop!”
Bear halted.
“Back!”
Bear snarled, clicking her teeth, but didn’t move forward.
The fox bared sharp fangs, the chain on its collar taut.
“Back, Bear.”
The shepherd backpedaled until she was one step behind me.
“Good girl. Sit.”
Bear sat, but she really didn’t want to.
The fox creature retreated to the wall and crouched. It walked on two feet and when it lowered itself, it didn’t sit on its haunches. It crouched like a person, like someone used to bipedal locomotion.
A caravan of raccoon-foxes, donkeys, some alien being wrapped in rags, bemoaning its fate… I’d seen his kind before in a vision. Their fur was of different color, and they wore clothes, but the resemblance was unmistakable. Same species. The leave-you-in-financial-ruin guys.
The fox-thing watched me with big golden eyes. It would be adorably cute, if it wasn’t in such a terrible state. Blood had dried into crust on its chest. Long scars covered its arms. Something or more likely someone had either beaten or tortured it.
The room was empty except for the dying light and the prisoner. No water. No food. No containers indicating that any of that was ever delivered. The fox was chained here and left to die.
And it could see the way out. The light illuminated the passageway behind me. There was no door on the cell. It looked like the exit out was right there, just a few yards away. The fox would watch the light on the wall as it wavered and grew dimmer and dimmer and realize it was a metaphor for its life. Soon the light would die, leaving the cell in the dark, and the fox would die with it, fading from hunger and thirst.
If the fox-creature did somehow break the cord and rush out, thinking it was free, it would run straight into a barrier which would leave it in agony. Once the pain subsided, it would realize that an invisible wall blocked its escape, a wall that could only be opened from the outside. It would see the dial, but it could never touch it.
This was a human level of cruelty. Killing it would have been more humane.
“Can you understand me?”
The fox stared at me, its eyes hot with menace.
For all I knew, it was some kind of criminal sentenced to die in this cell for a horrific killing spree.
I flexed. The fox didn’t glow. It wasn’t toxic, it wasn’t an immediate source of pain or danger the way the barrier was. It didn’t glow red like the hunter I had glimpsed. It simply was.
I took an empty canteen from my waist, pulled the full one off as well, and poured about a third of our total water supply into the first canteen. The fox watched me with an almost feverish focus. I screwed the lids back on, reattached the fuller bottle to my belt, and held the other one in front of me.
“Water.”
I tossed the canteen to the fox. It snatched it out of the air. Its long fingers twisted the lid with practiced dexterity, and the fox drank in long greedy gulps. It emptied the canteen and stared at me.
Whatever it had done, I couldn’t leave it here to die.
I pointed at the metal cord and shaped my sword into a short thick cleaver.
The fox bared its sharp fangs again.
I waited.
Two burning eyes glaring at me with fierce intensity.
“I don’t want to kill you.”
I pointed at the cord again, made a chopping motion with my cleaver, and took a step back with my hands up.
The fox rose and padded to the opposite wall, stretching the metal cord as far as it would go. Okay. The ball was in my court.
I walked to the bracket securing the cord to the wall. It didn’t seem particularly sturdy, as if whoever put it in place wanted the prisoner to break free. Otherwise, why even bother with the barrier? The cord itself seemed light and felt like a meld of plastic and metal.
Here goes nothing. I swung the cleaver and brought it down onto the cord. The blade cut through the five-millimeter thickness, severing the metal in a single clean strike. The cord fell to the ground.
The fox dashed past Bear into the passage and vanished from sight, dragging the metal cord with it.
Bear tilted her head and let out a puzzled noise.
“I know right? Not even a thank you.”
I looked around. Nothing left here.
“We’ve done our good deed for the day. Let’s see if it goes unpunished. Come on, girl.”
We were halfway across the stone bridge when I saw a clump of dark fur up ahead. The fox had made it about a hundred yards before the exhaustion and starvation brought it down. I crouched by it. It was still breathing. Bear sniffed it and looked at me.
“No, not food.”
I stood over it for a moment. I could just leave it. But it was hurt and alone, trapped in the breach. Just like me and Bear.
I sighed, made my sword into a knife, and sliced through the collar on the fox’s neck. The strange half-plastic, half-metal band fell apart. I picked the fox up, and headed forward, back to our original route.
Thank you, thank you thank you
Confirmed first 🙂
Hah! She didn’t even ask if she was first. Does the name Pavlov mean anything to you, ModR? 🤪
But I agree with Cynthia’s message. Thanks!
What has that last post by Ilona “nominate Mod R for sainthood”?
+100
Yay! Monday is finally here!
That statement is so weird. 😉
So happy it’s Monday, isn’t it great how IG changed how that day is perceived ?
^^^
Agreed! Happy Monday!
lol I’m still looking time at the moment, so remembering to read the emails 2-3 days late
It Will Be Okay
🥰
First?
cool 💦
Squee!
Anyone else get frustrated they have no one local to pace with as we wait for these to drop every Mon and Fri? Lol
Faye, I’m in Virginia, USA. We can pace together.
Finally encountered a fellow BDH at a mystery convention in Bethesda, MD at the end of April. We convinced some fellow attendees to try Sweep as an introduction,
I’m in Virginia! Nice to see a “neighbor”.
I’m in VA also! Stay cool in this heatwave.
I’m in Maryland. I was without power for 10 hours today when it was 93 degrees without heat index.
I don’t know how people in Kate’s Atlanta live without A/C (reread Blood Heir recently and it said A/C was an expensive luxury).
I’m in MD (DC suburbs) and grateful for electricity and A/C. Tink, I hope your power stays on and you stay cool
I grew up in Taiwan back in the day when AC was not common. All homes had tile or stone floors which we mopped everyday. Having the floors wet with the fans blowing across utilized the process of evaporation to cool the house.
We also took several showers a day. Lol
Wow, what a great way to cool the house, sans AC. It would raise the humidity level, though. Did you have problems with mold or mildew, like we do inVA/MD basements?
They live like I do, in my pre-AC Victorian house. 10.5 foot ceilings, three stories and big windows. During long heat waves you progressively abandon the upper floors, and you always have a basement with a temp of 60 or so. Keeping the upper floor windows open is important for convection. Candles will melt otherwise in the summer.
In NOVA, northern exurbs of DC metro area.
My AC has limped along, but I know a bunch of people who lost their AC.
I am sure the data centers didn’t go down though.
They actually switched to generators to help the grid! Small mercies.
I am in Virginia- Blacksburg
Roanoke Virginia! Greetings!
Also Bburg!
In VA also
How great is that?! I’d love to see local groups meet for coffee or tea and swap theories. I’m in Michigan.
VA also! Down in Hampton Roads.
There seem to be quite a few of us hiding from VA’s 110-degree heat index.
We can all pace together and let everyone in the Commonwealth wonder where that doom-like drumming sound is coming from. 😉
And on Saturday I was trying to convince my adult son that the mysterious follower WAS a Lees and that yes, a two-foot high bipedal fox DID count as “humanoid” and WOULD have eyes that reflected light. Now it seems that follower is the partner/friend/family of our new exhausted buddy, and we’ll end up with two little friends…so Kel, if you read this far down in the comments: Neener neener. Heh. Does this count for the 30-second rule? Love ya. *grin*
Ok, I’m not crazy to think of a Lees. Perhaps it’s head of household and restoring it to the clan gets +1000000 bargaining power.
I’m in NoVA, just outside DC! Hail to the DMV BDH!
RVA area for two years now, formerly spent 60+ years in the Baltimore/DC suburbs. I’ve been to BoucherCon a couple of times but it was 15-20 years ago. My heat pump went down Friday, but it was the capacitor which took the tech less than ten minutes to fix, so he could go right on to the next call (of which there were Many).
Also from the DMV area (Maryland). It seems we have a large fan base in the area!
First? Loving the story btw!
thank you ✨
Top ten?
Whoo Hoo! Yes please on sequel. I have been fretting about Aida, Bear et al as well. Ridiculous, right? But a tribute to the quality of writing.
Thanks to IA and also to the amazing ModR
Thank you so much! Looking forward to the book.
first?
Y’all are all so wonderful. Thank you, Ilona, Gordon & the Sainted ModR.
+ 1
Thank you!
Wonderful!!!
Thank you!
I don’t think I’m first but never got to the end and not seen any comments.
Oh YES!!! This is perfect! Love the story!
Is this REDACTED?
Ha! Im with you about REDACTED!
Gaaaaasp ooooo maybe!
LOL, pretty sure it is.
Yay!!! OMG Thank you HA!!!
@Jane I think it is too.
Wow, I’m usually not here to do the refresh thing, but I had to stay home so I can get a hold of my dentist asap (I fear a tooth has broken below the gum line) Oww. So not only do i get the thrill of being in the very top of the comments, I also have something to take my mind off the probably very bad things that this tooth thing will boil down to. Well I didn’t have anything to look forward to today, except this installment, so without further ado, I’m off.
Ouch! Good luck with the tooth!
Been there, saw my dentist and…nope, no good luck was forthcoming, nor happy endings either. In the simplist terms my reply to my dentist was “If you’re trying to cheer me up, it’s NOT working” So only doom and gloom need apply. But thanks for the best wishes anyway.
I hope they are able to deal with your tooth and that you heal well. 🙏
I wish! Unfortunately the best long term solution is a complete upper denture. (all teeth extracted) I’m nearly 70 and the body breaks down at a progressive rate as you age. One broken tooth? No big deal. But with that tooth gone, more pressure is applied to the remainder and you get a continual cascading failure.Nope, not interested in a short term solution. But all good wishes accepted for the more drastic option.
Unfortunately, most of the (extensive) work will be taking place in the dry spell between the end of Inheritance the serial and the release of Inheritance the novella.
I with you well. May you recover soon.
And almost 70 is not very old.
The story is great too.
+ 1
Best wishes Michael! As I always remind myself, someone always has it worse. Your situation is truly miserable, no way around it. I pray it doesn’t happen to me. I have cancer and am on a chemo that can cause osteonecrosis (bone death) of the jaw. If I break a tooth, no one will work on me for fear of breaking my jaw. Since I had a tooth break (failed restoration) shortly before I went on this new chemo, I am so grateful for the timing. Now… I don’t know what I would do. One step at a time. Doesn’t mean your situation isn’t dire. Lots of people have it worse than me. Maybe they can do a flipper??? Stay strong. Day by day.
Good luck with your tooth… been there, do not want to go back but my teeth think otherwise.
Like this chapter 9 very much, you expect the story to wind down but after every stone bridge you find another surprise 🙂
I know right? It’s been such a treat!
Thank you HA for another great installment. And the lee-esque creature. “The leave-you-in-financial-ruin guys.”
Can’t wa*t to see where the story goes.
Just going through this myself. Just had the extraction and the bone graft. Waiting for all the further steps later. Not fun but in the end, worth it.
So I feel your pain. Literally. Hang in!
That cat has been mocking me all morning, telling me it would be okay. I was not okay. I am now. Thanks for the installment.
Ditto!
Is this “the REDACTED” that will escape the breach?
I guess we’ll have to w*it to see (mwahahaha)
May someone please help with a translation/ meaning for “redacted”? English ist not my mother tongue and when I use deepl, it does not make sense in this context. Thank you.
It’s a reference to yesterday’s post 🙂 , It Will Be Okay https://ilona-andrews.com/blog/it-will-be-okay/
“Ada and Bear will escape the breach
So will the REDACTED
Ada and Elias will meet.”
In this context REDACTED stands for “redacted information or name”, meaning removed or censored from a document in order to prevent information from disclosure.
Thx, ModR, you are the best ❤️
To ime je bilo umaknjeno, ker bi razkrivalo vsebino.
Croatian is not curreently suported by Google translation. Darn! I really enjoyed visiting Croatia two years ago. A very beautiful country
Thank you! I had no idea what language Ilona used.
First, I tried German to English (Google Translate). This is my default since I’m an American living in Germany. With that setting, the translation was, “To this day I was very surprised, but I was surprised by everything.” I thought, “Pretty cryptic. What could Ilona mean?”
Second, I changed the setting to Russian to English. This resulted in no translation.
Third, I tried French to English. The translation was, “I’m so happy I’m so proud of you.” I thought, “Oh, she is happy with the moderator for providing a good definition.”
Google translate has Croatian for me. The translation is, “That name was removed, becasue it would reveal the content.” Ah! Now that makes sense.
We enjoyed a visit to Dubrovnik Croatia last October. Best time to go (not so hot).
How many languages does Ilona know?
Google Translate has a “Detect language” option, you don’t need to go through the guesses 🙂
This is not Croatian, looks more like Slovenian…
Btw, as Petra mentioned, DeepL is quite handy (and free) translator for EU languages (mostly better than Google translator for less spoken languages)
Or better yet, How did Ilona now Petra S was Croatian????
Oh wow, 4 question marks 😀
The admins of the website such as Ilona can see the email addresses domains and IPs associated with comments.
I have had good luck highlighting a foreign sentence, right clicking & poking, ‘Translate selection to English’. I think the first time I was going to copy the phrase to google & ask, but there the command was, and it worked. I have done this a few times in this series without knowing which language is what.
came up as slovenian translated to
This name has been removed because it would reveal the content
😂
Hitting refresh repeatedly and constantly seeing “It Will Be Okay” and the happy cat picture really worked for me this morning.
oh, is the lee going to make it out of the breach too? but to home instead of earth???
this is so fantastic!
Oh that would make me happy, the lees aren’t malicious, so whatever this one did to merit such punishment he must have a) stolen, b) cheated or c) broken a contract causing monetary harm…
Maybe not punishment by his people but an attack by someone who thought they were cheated?
The Lees are fantastic poisoners and assassins, but also great at bargaining. I’m hoping this little guy will help Ada negotiate or bargain with the anchor defenders so she can get back to the gate.
Who are the Lees? How do so many of the BDH know about them and I know nothing? Did I miss something? Is there someplace I can read more? Eeeek! Squeeee!!!! This whole thing is so awesome!
The Lees are very beloved characters from the Innkeeper Chronicles series by Ilona Andrews https://ilona-andrews.com/innkeeper-chronicles-books/ , they appear in most of the books and they are the supreme galactic merchants 🙂
Ahhhh! Lees???? I love a crossover if this is what it is!
Also: deep breath in. It will be okay. Deep breath out. Channeling fluffiness. There could be a sequel!
HA, you’re the best! And ModR, you deserve a medal! 🥇
Oops, sorry, I see it’s top secret and should be redacted!
I’m sure I do not know what you mean. Cross…over? Not familiar with the concept 😛
😂😆😂😆
ahhhh Mod R…..
cross overs are unknown in this world 😉
Is this the point where we do the crazy BDH thing and try to create a AndrewsVerse? Ummm what is the BDH name for smoooshing all the books into one universe?
I mean, I know the authors have said that isn’t the case, but when has that ever stopped us?
InnkeeperVerse? EdgeVerse? HordeVerse(BDHV)?
BearInn? (As in bearing with the current world situation?)
HA!
What cross-over? I don’t know what you’re talking about. Once again, there are no Easter eggs in this story.
Just insect eggs! 🤣
Beware the wasps! Best creepy-crawly-fly-ie.
Thank you both and Mod R!
And as my paternal relatives say: добар 🌞
(dobar dan for those of us, like myself, who are too many generations removed to read Cyrillic.)
Hahahaha, thanks so much for this!
Love it!😊
So what does a Lees have to do to be sentenced to that by his fellows. This is worse than taking a contract without the family. On the other hand, he might just be clanless and people can do what they want to him.
He could have been put there by the aliens that made the device, but it’s also exactly the sort of thing the Merchants would have on hand when traveling through a cave system.
Ada will have to resist calling him rocket and giving him big guns. Her entourage is growing. There is a reasonable chance that his translator can handle human, as they provide unusual things.
Whatever he (she?) did – they lost their earrings denoting them as shopkeepers. ( I forget is that what they are ? Shopkeepers? Retailors? Sellers of fine footware?)
Merchants, I believe is what you were going for. 🙂
I’m thinking he was kidnapped by either rival or non-Lees. Maybe there’s a reward for his return?
Not a cross-over a multi-verse à la Marvel! LOL
Can’t correct a typo arrgh hate auto correct
What is the typo? I can fix, but I can’t spot 🙂
I tried to put in ala and auto correct changed it to aka. No biggie just annoying. Thanks for the offer
Fixed 🙂
ModR, you’re the best!
Like Hugh’s book was an April Fool’s Day joke?
Don’t challenge the Horde. We have insane powers when we work together.
You can tell us there’s no crossover or Easter eggs all you want, but those of us on “Team Facts Be Damned” will still turn it into a multi book series where it coincides with Innkeeper/Edge/Kinsmen (not sure how to fit Kate in there, but I’m sure someone else will)! At the very least, in our own minds.
Thank you so much for this and also for agreeing to the (potential) sequel/series! (Yes, I’m using the powers of BDH positive thinking to make this a whole big thing! 🤞🏻) 🤗
maybe a breach is a pocket realm in unicorn lane.
Yes! You’re right! Like the Rukashas (not sure how to spell it, sorry!). I can see it. 😄
+1000
yes!
I was reading the comments to see how many other BDH readers also thought of the Lee’s!
I have to say that was my first thought!! Great minds and all that 🤣
Ok didn’t see that coming. But this is a fun addition to the mix. Can’t wait to see what’s next! Thanks!!
thank you
A Lees? Earrings ripped out (bloody, ripped ears) , adorably cut, bipedal, fluffy tail?
I was thinking the exact same thing!
I was wondering about Lees. I didn’t pick up on the earrings, but that cements it for me. Good catch. Thanks.
+1
If that weren’t enough, the “adorably cute” did it for me.
“A caravan of raccoon-foxes, donkeys, some alien being wrapped in rags, bemoaning its fate… ”
What was the alien being? I know they are the Lees in their normal travel caravan, but alien being wrapped in rags bemoaning its fate…..
Do we know a Lees who ‘may’ have been punished recently? 🤔
Yes its a lees but not one that we know, and not ‘our’ Nuan Cee clan lees. Different clan. Chi for the fluffy tail though… so cute. So.. deadly. Mayhap the lees will help Ada survive and disarm the anchor and get home in one piece… if there are Inns in this dimension, the lees might know of it…
What would Ada have to barter with?
her spider bag & rope, not like she’s going to get that past the DDC.
the leash and harness. a chunk of Adamantite.
A shoe, lol?
She just freed him, gave him water and is carrying him to safety. I’m pretty sure that a Lees would be obligated by all that.
Well, we don’t know if we know this Lees or not. Presumably they had their translator stripped from them along with everything else.
I recall what was said about the world of the Edge – that it was a splinter world, very similar to the world of the inns and, as such, the inns did not branch there. I believe the Alphas book had similar logic with hopping between different versions of Earth (and they were mentioned in the Edge books as well). I believe these splinter versions are all held in their own pocket dimensions within the universe, as per Dina’s explanation to George in the second innkeeper book.
This world has all those hallmarks – similar to Earth as we know it but with some critical breakdown/instability. In this case the portals to dungeons randomly appearing.
I might need to reread the Alphas book and remind myself what happened there. It’s been a good few years since I reread that.
oh and there’s that financial reference as well 🙂
Wonderful start to the week – thank you!
Yep, it pays to be adorable (or pretend). Gotta be a lees.
Kind daughter strikes another blow for compassion and hopefully saves a …lees?
Thank you for a sweet Monday treat that won’t make my dentist frown at today’s visit!
Kind daughter… love House Andrew’s characters, they have depth, spine, and compassion.
I loved this scene, it was one big surprise! Also, I liked your reassuring post, I was so excited when I came to the sentence that contained the magic word “sequel”.
a lees….. happy dance
looking forward to Friday
Hoping Friday will be the Ada & Elias meeting 😉
❤️❤️💪❤️❤️
+1000
Thank you!
My son and his gf run a D&D game every other Saturday. They work it out over the week and I hear a lot of rpg stuff.
I thought I’d like litRPG, especially after reading this series…. except … well… I haven’t found any I like. So far its all self conscious D&D runs or Monty Hall campaigns.
I was hoping it would be more like this story…. Maybe my son and his gf should write some.
Oh my goodness. It has been years since I have seen the term “Monty Haul Campsign” used. What a blast from the past. Thanks for the chuckle
Hi, I saw the weekend comment about people worried about Bear and I never had a doubt she would live because the Ilona is making her stronger, bigger and more resilient as time passes. What I am expecting from her is to be the saviour during a huge confrontation that the story seems to be building towards. I don’t know if this will be with unknown beings or back in earth but I am looking forward to be a fantastic backup who helps save the day. Also looking forward to when Aida claims Bear as hers and the dog makes her choice of who she wants to stay with.
Is anyone else getting Lees vibes from the fox?!
Vibes, yes. Actual Lees? No.
All Clan Nuan are Lees but not all Lees are Clan Nuan.
🤔😂
And the plot thickens!! 🤣
Good. I hope it’s not a Cookie. The clever ball of fluffiness.
It couldn’t be Cookie – he’s doing pretty good in the Clan right now.
Lee adresses the United Nations, rubbing his hands. “I can fix all of this, but it’ll cost you.”
Smiles 🙂
Love it. Such cute and clever foxiness.
If only!
So yes, lees? Just not ‘our’ Clan Nuan lees?
Hope you are feeling better
This was for Gordon but posted down the chain..
clan muan? please?
Thank you for the Monday snippet.
Interesting times ahead for Ada and Bear. 😁
Mod R should be nominated and voted for sainthood for putting up with us. 🤪😊
I would agree, but sainthood is awarded posthumously and we want to keep our Mod R with us!
We are BDH! We can change the rules and honour her while she is still with us. I also add my vote for Sainthood for Mod R. Thank you for everything you do for us. 💗
Start of the Lees Clans’ connection to humans?
The old one who leads Clan [as usual, the name escapes me — the one who gave Dina the candies when she was small]?
Nuan?
You have made my morning brighter. Thank you.
I just wanted to take the time to share my giggle at the fact that Elias not having spouse was placed on the list of reassurances above the fact that Ada and Bear will escape the breach. Clearly the authors understand the BDH’s priorities. 😁
Row, row, row your ship…
><
D
(experimenting with how to generate the intended emoticon)
And, neither worked as intended. Oh well!
Gently down the stream(of time)…
Your mileage may vary, objects look larger in the side mirrors, LOL
+1 :):):)
I laughed at that too!
first? to benor not to be first?
hmmm I couldn’t get this earlier. definitely not first. no idea why it didn’t load. I will clear out memory next time. 🙂
The blessing and curse of being creative, creating a new universe the BDH want to spend time in and their wanting everything yesterday.
I was sort of remembering IA was looking for a new series to attract new readers and (with my infantile knowledge of book writing industry) am now trying to figure what overall arc this could be the start of. Where ever their business goals take them, this is a captivating story and crossovers are a hug for fans.
Wait, waaaait. It’s that fox a Merchant?
Thank you!
Thank you so much! You make Mondays good!
Am I the only one who wants to know how Elias is getting on, if he has found the bodies yet and realized Ada and Bear are not there … as much as i love this new direction of Lees in the breach – and certainly the possibility of a sequel (happy dance) – I really want to see what Elias makes of the missing Ada and when they will meet.
If we keep going like now by the time he catches up with her she will be holding court at the anchor with a guard of Spider-shepherders and Lees?
😂 the visual of them coming in and Ada on a throne of sorts with all her new friends around her like what took y’all so long and oh yeah these are my new friends.
💯 Yes!! That exactly how I imagine it too.
Exciting ride so far. Can’t wait to find out what spin HA throws our way next.
Elias is still waiting for Jackson. Based on how fast O’Hare’s baggage claim is, Ada will walk out before they go back in.
LOL. +1
+1 🙂
That is my hope, anyway, because why would he linger to save a thousand dollars?
HAHAHA
Ohare baggage claim is slooooe
So many typos. Sigh. I give up
Just sad that there hasn’t been any Chicken Philosophers sightings.
+1 for chicken philosopher’s
Oh my goodness! A Lee! So excited I can’t stop using exclamation marks! Fluffy…..fluffy…..patient…….fluffy……!!!!
Also, Mod R you have a tough job and you are great at it. Thank you.
Thank you, especially, for the reassurance post.
I am often left wondering why the “wrong” fiction is becoming reality.
I hear that! I’m in about my 3rd alternate reality. Somehow I always end up in the ‘wrong’ one. Sigh.
At least I’ve had good companions, wherever I may b.
I don‘t understand the redacted comments. Did I miss something? Perhaps on social media?
A prison is a surprise. And why does Ada know how to Open The Door?
More secrets, longer Story? 🤗
They are references to yesterday’s post, It Will Be Okay 🙂 https://ilona-andrews.com/blog/it-will-be-okay/
Oooooooooooo. “The leave-you-in-financial-ruin guys.”
LOVE THE CHAPTER!
Hmm. Maybe there is a link to Vegas and broke, almost-certainly-dead Malcolm.
He’s very-certainly-dead Malcolm, we saw his broken cadaver in chapter 9 https://ilona-andrews.com/blog/the-inheritance-chapter-9-part-1/ RIP initial assault team!
Ooooh, is it a lees? You had me at donkeys and financial ruin!
Super excited about this one! And I’m 100% with everyone on cross over stuff🤣
Yes, a special thank you for this chapter segment. It has appeared on Monday the 23rd our 46th anniversary. 😊
PS: It’s wonderful to see the Lees in this book.
Congratulations!
Happy Anniversary!! 🎉
ModR, sorry for jumping the gun sometimes. So delete this if necessary and I am so sorry but I gotta ask: what were the names of Dinah’s parents?
DINA. (I hate predictive text)
Gerard and Helen Demille are Dina’s parents 🙂
Well there goes that Jumping-To-Conclusions
Just head over to the section that’s labelled Facts Be Dmnd and go for it I say 😉😉😉
(that’s TEAM FBD. Darnit, can’t even blame autocorrect for it, that’s on me 😉)
Did Ada really see the maybe Lees the donkey and financial ruin in a vision i remember it as a wall drawing in a cave somewhere? no? I keep thinking i need to start from the beginning but also reading some other books so … waiting for the full book to come out to do that 🙂
Ada saw cave murals in chapter 6 🙂 https://ilona-andrews.com/blog/the-inheritance-chapter-6-part-3/
I don’t know about any visions maybe connected with Sweep in Peace or any Lees, I’m new here.
in the text above form today Ada thinks to herself – I have seen this in a vision.
“A caravan of raccoon-foxes, donkeys, some alien being wrapped in rags, bemoaning its fate… I’d seen his kind before in a vision. Their fur was of different color, and they wore clothes, but the resemblance was unmistakable. Same species. The leave-you-in-financial-ruin guys.” –
no problem I know these things are unedited just stumbled over it. 🙂
Yes, she did have a vision 🙂 – in the link I pasted for you. I was joking, not saying you were wrong about the vision or the text isn’t accurate. I’m also not new here hehe.
ah thanks – clicked on the link and re-read 🙂
Well, I’ve read the installment, but don’t have the time to make my full comment, because I’m off to my emergency dental appointment. Thinks for the wishes of good luck. I need it
Oh my goodness, great twist.
isn’t it too big for a lee?
thank you
I hope the Lees end up owing her a nice favor!
+1 🙂
Thank you on this toasty Monday!
Dziękuję za kolejny fragment .
Thank you so very much. Happy happy about the Lee’s. Wow you guys have created such ana amazing world here. The non cross over options are wonderful. All we need now is George and crew.
There was this vision of a human negotiating passage on an alien world.
I don’t know in which chapter.
Before Ada goes killing the wasps and saving the eggs.
Hmmm… 😄
Okay. I did not have prison cell on my bingo card.
So, now we have a lees- like creature rescued. Curiouser and Curiouser.
I am loving all of the totally not Easter egg connections to another HA series.
I don’t think it will be the same setup as Innkeepers, with inns, etc. Not sure if the bad guys here are corrupted ad-hals…. We know The Edge series connects to IC but, the world, magic, obstacles are not the same. I wouldn’t expect that type of overlap in a connecting series. The corrupted Ad-hals carry the corruption, not just their garments…and they fight with magic and staffs, not swords. Still, I will wait to see how this story unfolds, I am very, very intrigued
This world does seem to be one that could birth the lees, who are known for their stealth and poisons…my response to leaving such a bare and inhospitable would would likely be to wrap myself in comfort and luxury.
I am very curious as to how The Sadrin had the combination for the barrier device. Was this part of her mission, to rescue the lees-like creature? Did she or her people imprison him? It didn’t appear to be her hand in the vision with combo, but would we know that for sure? Had she found the combination and was killed in route to free him?
Who is he?
Ada is backtracking for food and water. I wonder if she will find some mauve flowers and/stalker meat for the new guy… she’d likely worry the results may vary based on their different anatomies..also, stalkers are avoiding them now.
When she settles with the new guy, will the hunter approach her? Were they waiting for proof she had the inheritance as in gem with the knowledge and could use it and not just the bracer?
So, many questions…
And no answers are forthcoming until the next installment, or the next, or the…hmmm you get my point., Unfortunately I’m pretty sure that some won’t be answered until the LAST installment.
I fear you are right.
As soon as I start to fear, we are indeed approaching the end, there is more intrigue and many more threads to pull.
Curiosity is giving me such anxiety. Who knew that was possible!
And the answers to all the questions will be in the published book!
We must be p*tient.
Thank you. 🤩
Yes – we vote Mod R for sainthood!
I love the twists and turns; the story just pulls you in.
I now look forward to Mondays now! Unbelievable lol
Thank you, thank you, thank you
Just pacing myself, how close to the end are we in the story. This feels like middle to me… (not complaining)
perhaps the lees and the hunter are connected?
as of last Monday it was 4 – 10 installments. My guess is the higher number so 8. I checked, generslly a chapter has been 2 installments. So 4 chapters. My imagination doesn’t seem how they can possibly resolve all the various plot twists in just 4 chapters. But what do I know?
Perhaps a sequel then 🙂
Thank you for another installment!!
“This book is like, a rollercoaster.
Anticipation.
I wanna ride!”
Thank you for the chapter.
Thank you for the message yesterday, too. Sometimes it’s nice to hear reassurance.
+1!!!
Yes!!! This story gets even better somehow. Thank you so much!
I vote for sainthood for Mod R. 🙂
Oh the poor Lees :-(, you’ll be ok with Ada.
Thank you so much!
Yay! Rescuing the Lees!! And thanks to the security blanket post I know the Lees makes it out too!
Great chapter. I haven‘t counted how many of the fourteen remaining installments we have had yet, but so far the things to be resolved are still stacking up. 😉
PS: I would vote Mod R for sainthood, too; but alas, sainthood ist bestowed posthumously. While Mod R is truly a shepaard for the BDH and keeping us fluffy and chalant qualifies as a miracle, I suggest we postpone the sainthood for now…
and the Lee
s has entered the picture…my kindly daughter is helping…rescuing the prisoner
Ok, it will be ok 🙂 Thank you for this wonderful chapter. Bear was sooo good girl today 🙂 And now they have the little, abused Lees to take care of… Well, wouldn’t this be a great trial how to explain the fox to the goverment? Ada was afraid to have to explain her powers. But now, her new friend? I would love to see the reaction of Elias. “Hmmm” may be not enough:) Ada has seen so much in this breach, I think she is completely different person. She miss her children, but I think the breach isn’t so alien/dangerous to her now.
Ada & Bear will go with the “Lees,” exit the breach via a portal to an Inn and end up in Texas lol
oooppps, no cross over hahahahaha
Oh. Hopefully this helps her later on. Happy she is staying true to herself. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
If he will say his name is Cookie I will surely squeal!!!
Wrong colouring (fur and eyes) for Cookie, but we can still squeee.
Not that I’m at all supporting the idea of this being a Lees 😛
Sadly, I think the lot of us took that resemblance/clue and jumped off a cliff with it. So sorry!
I think the *correct* acronym for HA’s fans should be the BDHL (Book Devouring Horde of Lemmings).
All Ilona has to do is repeat a dozen times “there are no Easter Eggs in this story” – and Team Facts Be D’ed will squee loudly, drain the cup of coincidence to the lees, and then base-jump without parachutes…
Thank you! The only reason I’m looking forward to Mondays, LOL!
Fox like? Donkeys? Money guys? Hmmmm…
Great read. Stalker…Lees-like prisoner- what is the connection? I am wondering if the stalker has been trying to find a way to free the prisoner. Are they together? What if, humans did this? The ones who know about the breaches but didn’t tell. Questions, and more questions. Just theories…. I love a good read that makes you question everything. thank you.
I don’t think Humans have the technology for the barrier device that Ada found. In her vision, she saw a clawed hand working the dials.
I do wonder if either the Sadrin was working with the hunter to possibly free the Lees-like person. Or, if as you say, the hunter was looking for a way to rescue him. From the description, “long face” I believe (I’ll go back and check), it doesn’t sound lees-like, but that could be something to obscure their identity.
I’m still thinking the hunter is following Ada to check her out. Maybe they came looking for the Sadrin (or was either working with her/being protected by her) and recognized that Ada is carrying the Inheritance. They may be evaluating whether or not she is worthy of the inheritance and/or of being Sadrin.
I wonder if they will approach when she tries to nurse the lees-like person back to health.
Fascinating…thank you
Omg, gotta be a lees! They ripped his earrings out! What did he do!?! Waiting to see if there is some kind of Innkeeper crossover here. Is this Dina’s Earth or a different one? So curious!!
I’m thinking (in my fangirly head) that it’s an Alternate Earth getting portals opened to Dina’s variation. But can you _imagine_ the kittens that governing board would have if random portals suddenly started opening all over Dina’s Earth (given how long this has been going on, I seriously doubt it’s Dina’s Earth)
That was my question — would the Ad Hal be involved if aliens were involved? Though maybe if they were in the portals they would technically not be on earth?
I could also be Dina is contemporary and this story happens in the future ?
Yes … my thought that this is an alternate (dimension? Universe?) like unto the world Jack and co. are from is an alternate to the world/dimension/universe Dina and co. inhabit. I seem to remember that Innkeepers can do some traveling to these alternates, so maybe there are others who can as well. My mind has a little trouble parsing the differences between different worlds (e.g. Holy Anocracy planets, etc.) and different dimensions with similar-but-not-same iterations of those worlds … guess that’s why I am not a writer …
I’m waiting (yes, that word) to find out if breaches are spontaneous occurances or if they are created by someone(s).?
I’m with you Sara B…I’m thinking alternate universe, true multiverse.
I don’t think it’s a direct connection to The Innkeeper’s Chronicles – so, no Inns, no innkeepers, no corrupt ad-hals. I think we are seeing a universe that might have some shared characteristics, species.
I don’t recall the Lees being described as raccoon- fox like, they were very much fluffy, adorable, fox. Could it just be Ada’s description or I missed it, yep…but, I think we are seeing a variation of the Lees.
If this Lees-like character has a shared/similar history as the IC world Lees as the murals seem to indicate, then it makes me wonder even more who imprisoned him and why.
I don’t think the answer has to be that he was imprisoned by his people. Given the cave systems, aside from the murals and the spider herders, Ada hasn’t encountered any other signs of civilization. These Lees-like folks could have abandoned the place or been driven out ages ago…or, been placed on that world as punishment for a perceived wrong against another species.
He could have been part of the Sadrin’s original mission and/or the hunter, to rescue this person…We don’t know his anatomy or how long he could have survived without food and water…or, how long that light would have lasted. Could it coincide with the opening of the breach?
I wonder if his prison cell being so close to the anchor was a coincidence?
Thank you for the part. It will be interesting to see what happens next
Innkeeper Inns: oh, look, cool doorways to other worlds that form as an Inn develops. You can shop, you can throw badly-behaving guests to the sea monsters…
Inheritance portals: someone/something is opening doorways on Earth to various kinds of environments without warning, enabling hordes of deadly monsters to ravage humanity.
Welp, these doorways just got weaponized as a planetary attack mechanism!
I like the way you think! This theory never crossed my mind.
Lol, a day after reassuring us that everything will be okay we get a new creature to worry over. I see what you preemptively did there- because I would be stressed otherwise about the new maybe-a-Lees creature.
another ally! assembling the team! excited for more!
Don’t want Mod R to be dead, so no sainthood nomination from me.
Demi-godhood on the other hand…
;D
If there can be a domestic goddess, there can surely be a moderate demigoddess. Although that term might require fine-tuning.
Loving this story and all the crazy BDH comments. Thank you! 😂
awwwwwww, twill be a merry band of misfits soon
Thank you for a fabulous Chapter 👌
she rescued a lees! ❤️❤️❤️ tyvm!
Thank you! I have written my theories previously so I will hold off for now. Exciting to see how this will get wrapped up!!! The enemy of my enemy is my friend, financial backer…and personal poisoner…isn’t that what Lees are great at? This breach has had so many poisonous plants and creatures it makes sense to find a Lees here. Plus another cool sidekick! Now to figure out context, was the Sadrin also here in this breach for some kind of mission against the gray guys…hmm. Wish the Sadrin’s knowledge would tell Ada who those guys were. Thank you again HA- you have me on my knees requesting more, more, more 🙂 May your house ever be blessed!
yes! I am thinking if the government and CC make life too dangerous for Ada, she could scoop up her kids and get a job with / through the Lees. Ooooh, now THERE’S a crossover!
Ada’s concerns about CC may be trauma-induced paranoia. Elias seems firmly in charge of CC, and as written so far, he doesn’t seem like the type to sell Ada out.
Honestly, as someone who has worked in government labs – though admittedly not the clandestine kind – I find Ada’s concerns about the government likely to be trauma-induced paranoia as well. While there are occasional loose cannons in government research, and much more so back in the bad old days, there are also a heckuva lot more checks and balances in government than in corporate settings. You know where you find reckless disregard for collateral damage? In the private sector, which has often, though not universally, prioritized speedy profits over caution and due diligence. Think tobacco, oil, and so on.
Excellent point!
I think Elias may have also had an upgrade in his physical abilities and Magic level as he seems to be very strong and capable in the breaches. If so, he has succeeded in hiding/ disguising his true power from others and will probably help Ada cover up her power level. Another reason for we “ facts be damned” members of the BDH to ship them!
+1 I’ve been wondering whether Elias has an inheritance of his own.
It’s so fluffy! Am I the only one who wants a Lees stuffie? Maybe a philosopher space chicken with a big hat, too? I gotta learn how to crochet. I could cricut #TeamFactsbeDamned and iron it on a shirt for now, though.
I know the store is no more, but I feel like Bear merch would be a sellout. Which reminds me that my partner broke my book devouring horde mug, and now he’s not allowed to touch my Great Day for a Ferret Heist mug.
OMG! Precious! Must not touch! Wonder if we can get some vinyl stickers made up for water bottles/thermos’
My favorite mug too (very good shape plus the great image) … and the funny looks I get when I wear my “Barsa Barsa Barsa” t shirt to waltz class ….
Okay, I know that you write HEA that the Author of our own story is taking a very long time on. I like that metaphor of the roller coaster ride; I’m going to try to remember that. I just want to thank you for giving me something to worry about other than our own story. I keep worrying that her paranoia about Cold Chaos is going to make her too defensive and look like an aggressor to Elias. Unless she falls for the fox?
Today is my birthday, and the best present to learn more of what’s going on with Ada and Bear! Thank you for this, and all your books/novellas/snippets.
Lees!! Woo hoo!!
I wonder what was the reason for such a cruel punishment though…
LOL.” Leave you in financial ruin guys.” I did miss the bit about the ears though. HA! ModR, you just keep being you. Sainthood is vastly overrated.
Ada, being kind and using the Inheritance, as the blue being asked. All. The. Winning!
Thank you. I really needed that this morning.
The suspense!
Thank you!!
Don’t stress yourselves. We will wait for however long it takes you. I mean that in a patient way, not as a threat!
SQUEEEEE!!!!!!! Oh, I just LOVE this roller coaster! Is this the line for ‘YES, sequel please!’ and ‘Crossover!’?!! 😂
As usual, many thanks to HA for giving us such wonderful things to read, think about and look forward to, and to Mod R (who definitely qualifies for sainthood!) for keeping the BDH in line and mostly out of trouble (-ish!) 😁💕💕💕
the Horde’s line for ‘sequel please’ seems to be way back in chapter 1 of any given story XD
Another great chapter. This story always makes me happy. It is a joy to read
Thank you!
Yay Ada! Saving the poor fox creature!
When the spiders were introduced, I wanted to make a tongue-in-cheek comment that the only likely ship to sail is Bear and a spider. But the idea of spider puppies made my skin crawl and my stomach revolt. So I decided not to write about it (until now, heh). But this fox is much more shippable. Even Ada thinks it’s adorably cute. So, provided the fox isn’t a highly intelligent species (which does seem like a possibility), I vote for fox puppies in the epilogue. 🙂 🙂
Wait, what? How did I miss what everyone else seems to have gotten, that the fox is a lees? Buh-bye, Bear-ship. I’m guessing now that Ada will end up as an innkeeper, though I’m fuzzy about the timelines of this story and of the Innkeeper chronicles.
I like your thinking, but I’m calling your bet of Innkeeper and raising with an Ad-Hal – or I would, if Eater Eggs and crossovers were ever a thing, ahem, ahem 😉😉
I was getting Maven vibes back when Ada was with the Takki type folk. How she was able to respect them for who they are, and then the hints of language and culture she was getting from the Inheritance.
I am very thankful for all that IA and Mod R do! Loving this! 😍
Aaaaaah! I’d been rereading the Innkeepers books lately, looking back and forth from that original stalker to this story and now here we have a lees! Aaaaaaaaaah!
ok, I’ll stop screaming in glee now.
(re, yesterday’s post, yes. Please. So many more stories in this world please. I realize there are other obligations. That’s ok. I can wait.)
I just want to thank you guys for sharing your gift of story telling. It makes me smile.
The little voice in my head kept gibbering OMG OMG OMG all the way through this installment. I really want more to this story and more of Ada and Elias and Bear and our anonymous (Lees) newcomer. Yes please sequel!
And thank you, HA for NOT doing tragic endings. There is enough tragedy in real life; I want my imaginary worlds to give me comfort and hope.
Hmmmmmm….. now that was deliciously tantalizing.
Also the people freaking out must be new bc your dedication to the HEA is a huge part of why I read y’all.
I just love this story and ‘world’, I would love to see it continue!
thank you for this installment. it was wonderful.
I would never harass you with pointless questions I trust that you would not take us down a dark path without warning as you never have before. I don’t know why people think you would start now.
long live house Andrews. thank you for all your hard work
I very much like the merging of the worlds. It is a gift for you fans to see the worlds interact. Maybe we can work in Nevada and Connor? (Just kidding. Kinda.)
Squeeeeee! Innkeeper crossover?
well, I’m off to re-read Innkeeper while I wait for Friday.
where there any planets mentioned with 5 moons?
Did anyone else squeal with glee and say Lee’s in a high pitched voice?
Ahajsbfkgkdbd Nuan Cee Nuan Cee Nuan Cee or well atleast someone of his species 😅
Summer, huh? CANNOT WAIT! Thank you for sharing!
Reading these chapters is something that I truly look forward to. It brightens my day, especially since I know that an entire BOOK is coming, soon!
Thank you, and take care, all.
Another possibility on why Scruffy is in the cave. It might not have been his own people. For any of a number of reasons, he might have been trying to steal from another group of travellers, and he got caught. They have a well developed sense of cruelty and a rep to maintain, so they do this.
a Lees?
Thank you!!
These chapter are my light in the darkness!!
Hugs to HA and Mod R!!
Thank you so much for the installment. I appreciate all that you do!
I save the Monday release for when I’ve had a bad day during the week… I didn’t make it beyond noon today!! So thankful for these.
Ah, the fluffy fox-like creatures who lead you to financial ruin. Will now owe Ada a favor. Hmm.
Thanks for the story!
Thank you, Ilona and Gordon, for another enjoyable segment! Am excited to see where this goes next – in whatever direction you choose that brings you the most creative joy!
ModR – Horde Wrangler Extraordinaire (and, perhaps, undercover demi-god – based on previous comments….) Thank you for your infinite well of patience!
Sending peace, healing and safety to all!
Ooooo I wonder which Lees it is? One of the family we are familiar with or another line.
Ooh a fox. Tricksy. I love this series. Best thing about Mondays for sure. Thank you.
On different note, I do like the new author photo ( on web page) … Ilona looks adorable (hair looks great), although “Gordon” looks so serious … for a guy who uses Milo Bloom as his personal icon/avatar …
Well I used to call him combat dude or grumpy cat, but now with that picture I got those mental pictures ruined.. I’m reformulating my vision… but Dallas and Milo and county bloom… eeh. Hadn’t thought of that one!
Mod R already deserves sainthood. We, the BDH would have driven anyone else bats. Thank you, Mod R, for all you do for HA and us. Your awesome.
Thank you, another twist in the plot. In our real world, where things are very crazy, this is a great outlet. 102 degrees in Upstate NY, needed this spinnet .
Endless T storms with lightening in my sunny southern florida locale.. AC for the heat, but no going out walking n the pm.. ya gotta dodge the bolts from above, which lovie I do not intend to do. I hear thunder, I fort up and go inside… 5 people died of lightening strikes Sunday in this state…
Probably West coasters who don’t know any better!
(speaking from experience 😉 )
Is this a known Lees or anew one? And who locked the Lees up? Maybe the watcher? Can’t wait until ADA and Bear get to the anchor. Wondering if it’s protected by a creature?
Loving this! Many thanks!
I’m going to go with Ada having reasonable paranoia about Cold Chaos. As an assessor, Ada works with a number of different guilds. You get the feeling from Elias‘s comments that not all guilds are squeaky clean. Even if they were, I’m sure whatever media they have in Ada’s world, has stories about all sorts of shenanigans involving the guilds. There’s probably a pretty good assessor’s grapevine too.
Ada doesn’t know Elias. Based on what we know about Elias, he probably made a point of meeting her at least once, but she doesn’t know him. The two CC people she knew best and trusted betrayed her and everyone else. London and Melissa killed the rest of their team to save themselves. For all Ada knows, Elias will help them cover things up to protect CC. In Ada’s shoes, I’d be worried too.
Early on it says that Elias has never met Ada in person, but has a file on her, as he likes to know who his ppl r working with. Your idea that Ada might know Elias by reputation, thru other assessors is interesting. I wonder if knowing that he is personally leading the recovery team plus his reputation will matter if they meet in the breech? I’m assuming Elias has a solid reputation, ofc.
Ohhhhhhh I wonder if they are related to Nuan Cee and Cookie?… This is sooooo good….
Oh my. The fox like creature sounds rather like a lees. Would have been ‘terminally cute’ & ‘financial ruin’ kind of guys does point that way. As for the ragged ears, like something was torn out of them, as I recall the lees mark advancement in rank with gold rings in their ears…..
Thank you!!
Condensed viewpoint after more obsessing … er, contemplations:
Is this the past and a prequel bout how Innkeepers started? Especially on Dina’s Earth? So Ada might be the first human innkeeper? Or maybe even an ancestor of our Dina?
And Bear = first Beast?
/ a proud member of Team Facts Be Damned
I’m still team separate world, separate concepts…no direct connection to Innkeepers at all. I think more of a connection via the arbitrators than inns/Innkeepers. So maybe some similarities in species and such, but not the actual same.
When IA is being very rogue in cheek with the “no Easter eggs”… I think she is being truthful. 🤣
Operating under that assumption that an earth in a different reality could be in a universe that has shared some similar traits…
I wonder if this breach space is something similar to Nexus…in that there is a temporal anomaly…times moves faster. So, where Ada is four+days past the spiders, it might just be 2 in Elias’s timeline when we reconnect with them.
I’ve such curiosity about who this Lees-like character is and how he came to be imprisoned.
I don’t think this is a run of the mill… he caused financial harm to his clan or broke the rules situation, that would likely lead to exile.
I don’t think he is Sadrin. It’s possible that he was disoriented and reacted to not recognizing Ada or her species…but, I’d think he would have been more open to the possibility of rescue.
I wonder why there was no reading on him. Makes me think, he does not present a harm to Ada.and has nothing useful to offer. Which again makes me wonder why he was imprisoned.
I think the act of kindness with nothing to gain…is going to be an opening for the hunter to approach…and a new possible friend x2 for Ada.
So many possibilities..
Where is that pre-order link…
So, I initially read the installment 5 minutes after it was posted, but had to deal with a dental emergency and then the traumatic fallout from said emergency, make new appointments, etc. So I didn’t get back here to leave my own comment until 249 other commenters were posted. In my experience, it’s unusual to have no long involved speculative comments among so many comments, but that seems to have happened today. Only one or at most two paragraphs with the lees connection being bandied about. Good for Mod R, but not as entertaining as the back and forth sharing of ideas and such, for us faithful readers in the comments section. So here’s my bit. Totally agree with the alternate worlds theory (apparently using the term cr*ssover is frowned upon) (according to Mod R AND Ilona) I suspect a sneaky bit of misdirection in play there. But there is confirmation on that theory, with The Edge, and Inn Keeper thing happening. But how did the lees get from a restricted Inn environment (no involvement allowed on earth with the galactic civilization) to be trapped in a third iteration of earth? And explaining that won’t be possible in a scant few paragraphs. Which brings me to my next point. We’ve been told that there are a finite number of installments remaining. (I believe the upper limit remaining would be approximately eight) The average chapter appears to be two installments. So somehow all these different elements have only (approximately) four chapters. Notice how I hedge my bets with that “approximately”? So there’s Ada’s paranoid fears concerning the government and guild’s apparent coverup of breach environment, there’s Elias and his foray to the original ambush site, where he finds a mystery involving Ada and her whereabouts, how he handles a search for her, yet still advance to the anchor to close the breach in a timely fashion, the meet up between Ada and Elias (with the surprise inclusion of a new intelligent species in the person of the lees) then we need to resolve how all of these unconnected story arcs are combined to reach a logical resolution, (you’ll Note that my listing of all that was nearly a paragraph in and of itself) and all of that makes me doubt that even our illustrious author lords can tie all of that up in only four, FOUR, chapters! I’m not saying it can’t be done, after all we are talking about Ilona Andrews. But, I am prepared to stand in awe of their artistry in pulling off such a literary miracle. There. I’ve done my bit to contribute at least one long involved comment, to keep Saint R, err Saint Mod R? (hmm. neither of those look quite right) busy deciding if there’s anything in there that needs moderation, or deserves a reply. Mod R we salute you.
PS I’m glad there are no length restrictions on comments. (at least none that i’ve noticed)
I’m with you on this. I just commented something similar as I was going through above, so I won’t reiterate everything here. I agree this is likely a connection like The Edge and Innkeepers, not a continuation of the storyline and themes of the series.
I think just as there are alternate earths that look, feel the same… those universes can share similar species that may have similar backgrounds.
I also agree on the remaining threads to be smoothed out/tied off. This is the reason for my slight panic last week. I’m trying to tell myself to stop doing a count down and worrying about how everything can possibly be resolved..if we only have a few short chapters left. The fact that we have new introductions is slightly encouraging while still anxiety producing. I trust HA that in the end, everything will be okay…and, in that lovely post yesterday…I saw the most delightful reassurance…sequel!!!
That being said, I hope it’s not a rush to the end… though, the anxiety of having to wait for answers is getting to me. 😂🤣
Back on topic, embracing the thought that this Lees-like person has a shared history…
This could be a merchant/clan leader imprisoned by the gray robes or some other species for some unknown reason or cause.
He could be connected to the Sadrin’s or maybe the Sadrin was on a mission to rescue this person when she died. I don’t know if I would say he is part of the Sadrin…I would hope his response might not have been as distrustful… though, if he knew he was locked behind that barrier and someone unknown came in that clearly had the code and had an attack animal…and I was tortured, starved, and dehydrated… his reaction is appropriate. His trying to escape without harming them … or taking the rest of their water…was reassuring.
I still wonder how the Sadrin knew the code. I don’t think she was responsible for his imprisonment.
I wonder if the hunter is here for this person, if not…how will he get back to his world/people. If Ada is worried about the response to her changes being drastic…I can’t imagine bringing him back to Earth. Is his home place connected to this cave systems still…
Anywho, so many new threads…so many older connections to be make and answers to be provided…
Where is that pre-order link when you need it?
The Lees get to earth via the Innkeeper Portal but they are not of earth.
The portals are between earth and another planet/space so the Fox could have ended up in the portal that connects to their home planet or a planet they were visiting.
BahaChar (where the merchants are) has lots of people/species from other planets so a lot of them must have space travel (like Arland does).
They don’t use the Inns as a transport station, Inns are just the only way to get to earth.
I just hope the people/species that are stuck in the portal section get sucked back to their connected planet when the anchor explodes 🙂
Well, yeah I knew that, my point is that to get to an alternate version of earth they would need to utilize the Inn’s portal as I imagine alternate earths would have the same no contact provision with earth (or presumably earth alternatives) by any galactic civilization. Thus they would not be able to legally access, nor would they be granted access to any In portals.
I agree that the Lees are not from Dina’s earth, but they do exist in Dina’s universe/reality. I still don’t believe we are dealing with a direct crossover approach here. If I’m not mistaken HA has stated this is a new world.
In The Innkeepers Chronicles, we know there is a connection to The Edge Series, but, if you think about it that connection is through the Office of Arbitrators, not Dina’s Inn/Earth.
I’ve not reread The Edge series in a while, but from my memory (which could be faulty)… magic existed in the between/Edge, not in the “earth”, there were no inns nor innkeepers.
In Sweep in Peace, when George asked Dina to take him to his Earth, Dina was quite clear that they were going to an alternate Earth that exists in it’s own reality. She has never made this type of statement regarding the Lees or any other place/species.
In Dina’s world, I don’t recall her ever using a descriptor of raccoon-fox like to describe the Lees. Yes, it could just be a descriptor that Ada is using or some derivative of the clans.
In the Innkeepers’ world, when an inn opens a doorway to BahaChar, it has an actual door that is accessible immediately from both ends. In the case of Calendia, Dina’s states it opens onto an island that the inn has claimed. They don’t open into the middle of a random street that can only be entered from one side.
If anything, I think the Sadrins are similar to the office of arbitrators or are some other type of interceding body.
For now, my theories are that we are dealing with an earth/universe in a completely different reality. This reality just shares some species, histories, and/or characteristics as the Innkeeper world.
I could totally be wrong. It is possible that the Lees in this world either started out in this breach space or were exiled to this space from Dina’s world, or there is a direct connection to the existing storyline. If so, that’s cool. I will enjoy how the story unfolds either way.
I KNEW that I was thinking of the “stalkers” as something from Innkeeper – now there is no way that I am not reading about a Lees here.
::Happy sigh:: brightening up a grey winter Tuesday morning (I’m in Tasmania)
Love you HA! Love you Mod R! Love the BDH! And Team FBD give me the cackles!
Love it. Thank you. 💕
Thanks! Are these lees or completely unrelated? Maybe that was asked and answered already?
Nekkid lees with earrings torn out! Oh noes! Poor little dude 😭
Nancy. Happy birthday. It’s my birthday too and this snippet is the best gift.
Thanks. Looking forward to the whole story. And yew, write a sequel.
Yes, not yew.
Thank you so much for the reassurance. Everybody’s resilience has dropped a fair bit. I’m so looking forward to the book, and it’s nice to know that I can peek out from behind my hands to read your chapters in the meantime. 💜
Thank you 😁👋
I love Ada’s kind and helpful nature even when it could put her in danger.
I got my friend in Germany hooked on the Roman serial and now this one 😉
For those new to the BDH – House Andrews always provides a HEA – Happily Ever After – for their main characters. They have close calls but pull through. Some side characters might not. So no matter how bad the situation you know Bear and Ada will succeed!
Ermahgerd, is that a lees?! I love crossovers!
We’ve been spoiled… where’s the part 4 😂😂😂
Do we all think foxy loxy is REDACTED Who makes it out
Go Ada and Bear!!!!!!!!!!!!*cheers*
And the foxperson too!!!!
Is it Cookie?
A very well-crafted RollerCoaster, indeed.
I am reminded of my double helix wire hair pins.
Small.
They don’t really look like anything special…actually, they look kinda silly? I mean, wire corkscrews?
What’s THAT all about?
But if you buy a package, actually try them out…they will be your favorite thing for a very, very long time.
My favorite things…that’s what IA’s books are for me. My wonderful-est, amazing favorite things.
Must remember to call my friend who handed me my first copy of one of the “Magic” books. I owe her some SERIOUSLY spendy chocolate!
oooh. i just had a thought.. the Lees can speak to Ada, and then translate to the other being following her… she can then do …things? Shut anchor down? Maybe the lees and red being can guide her to the breach/exit? Just thinking spit balling of course I want the Lees so terribly tortured by a human to be saved. Is it possible Malcom and his greed had connections to the Lees…just wondering… maybe its more complex? Oooh a sequel..
thank you for this! very overwhelmed by the world and I just reread all the Innkeeper books this past weekend. midway through this I thought – a lees!?! love the crossovers.
Hey Mod R as one of the keepers of Andrews series canon. Can you give me a ruling on a question in the Inn keeper canon? In my comment I postulated that there was a question on how the lees got to yet another alternative earth. George gained access to the greater galactic universe by induction into the arbitrators guild. But how would a lees find or get access to yet ANOTHER alternate earth? A reply to my comment said he would have gotten access via an Inn’s portal. I disagreed. Because the Inn’s are the keepers of that policy of no galactics can gain access to earth or let an earthling have knowledge about the galactic civilization. I’M NOT ASKING FOR THE ACTUAL ANSWER, (Ilona will (probably) explain all of that in her own good time) but a nod to my contention that it would technically be unlikely that an Inn’s portal was involved, thus there has to be an unanswered mystery involved regarding a lees presence in Ada’s earth. Sorry to be a bother, and this may be akin to a question like “What sound does the color red make?” Thus your ruling might boil down to “That is top secret classified information” Or possibly “None of your business” Or “You’ll have to wait until the book comes out” Or even “Now your just being silly”This is a example of how emotionally Involved the bdh get into the books. And how invested we are as individuals in our understanding of the Andrews and thus it logically follows the I’m correct.
Okay, I went back to proofread the comment, and it is definitely a silly nonsensical question. But after taking the time typing it out, I am disinclined to delete it. So I’m going to toss it into the ocean like a message in a bottle, see what happens.
Sorry, in advance for this. And also thanks
I would simply ask. If there is an alternate earth… does have to exist in a universe with a single planet/life form? Whether or not they have knowledge of additional life elsewhere..
If there are still humans on an Earth that exist in a different reality… could there not also be Lees-like beings that share that universe?
I don’t think its has to be that if this person is a Lees, he had to have gotten into this book world via The Innkeeper world.
Is it possible that Ada is becoming an ad-hal?
I am so impatient for the next installment. I really love this story and wish it would continue on with as many books as Kate Daniels or The Innkeepers series. When this story is published I hope to see an audiobook option. I will buy the Kindle and audiobook versions as soon as they come out.
Great job on an attention grabbing story that keeps waiting on the next installment.
So, so, SO, SO SOOOOOO happy about any installment with animals in it. And so grateful for the ‘It will be okay’ post. Yes, somehow I needed it, but I didn’t know I needed it until you wrote it.
I would like to propose the SPU principle: Sequel Please Understood – The principle states that, unless otherwise stated, I/we/the multiverse ALWAYS want a sequel. Thank you for graciously extending that possibility for this delightful serial.
Is the SPU Principle anything like the Peter Principle? But I’m in agreement to your proposal. “If you write it, we will come” And it follows that “And we will come back, asking/begging for MORE”
You guuuyyysss. I know you are busy and have a life but why does it feel like torture to read these awesome little chapters???
Please can you do more? And then some more again? Breach Series pleeaaasseee.
Also waiting for Gorge or Jack to pop up with a cameo in there somewhere. Can’t wait to see what family this Lees is from. Wahooo!
You invent wonderful worlds and I have read and reread them all multiple times You provide escape in a marvelous way and I look forward to whatever you write. of course I want to know about the Innkeeper ending. But
1. You are the writer and you write what you chose, what you feel you need to
2. You are Human with family a d issues to deal with like we all do.
I look forward to whatever you write and when you write it. You have much in common with Tolkien in creating worlds, legends and characters
Thank you
I am very much enjoying this serial. Many thanks. “If everything burns, what will rise from the ashes? Change is the only thing that is certain.”
I wonder if the lees will be brought back to Earth and then collected by a mysterious Innkeeper, who will then curate some reward from the great Nuan Cee…
This was a human level of cruelty. Killing it would have been more humane.
At first read I thought that was assigning blame unfairly to the human race. But then I thought, well as far as Ada knows the human race is the only animal that does/can be capable of that. But then I considered the fact that up until the ambush, and the meeting between Ada and her mysterious benefactor that may have been true, but from that point she knows that there is at least two, (her benefactor and the spider herders) and probably three (her stalker) sapient species, and considering the magical and/or high tech force field generator that number would/could be four sapient taces who might be responsible for the cruelty shown to the prisoner. Ada, let’s not limit our thinking that only humans are responsible for that base emotion. Just a thought that occurred to me on my second read through. Let’s try to be fair here.
It’s always enlightening how deeply one can interrogate a metaphor when taking it with absolute literal sincerity 🙂
ohhhhhhhhh is it really that cross over.
Love Tuesdays thankyou
If, as seems likely, the freed prisoner is a Lees, it has not traveled to a different Earth as some have mentioned. At least, it hasn’t unless or until it travels through the portal to Ada’s home planet. My reading (+ 2 rereadings) indicates that once through the portals, the teams are off-planet. We don’t know yet if the creatures that boiled out of the early breach were from the planet of the breach environment or if they came from a different planet and merely traversed the breach as a connector. There is an early mention that the breach environments are so varied that there is credence given to the idea that they are bits from different planets that have been snagged to be used as bridges. I don’t think we know (*yet*) if collapsing the anchor destroys the environment (bye spider farmers) or simply snaps it back to wherever it was originally from.
Royalroad host more than just litrpg and kingdom building. For example Michael Sullivan have there his ryrya chronicles.
Great installment! Thank you, House Andrews!
Oh-ho! Another fantastic twist! Thank you!
Oh, frabjous day! A chapter for my birthday!💖
Is it just me who thought “Cookie in dire straits” at the mention of a caravan of racoon-foxes, the leave-you-in-financial-ruin guys?
Exactly what I thought too!!
EEEK THE *REDACTED*!!!
What I wouldn’t give to have your imagination, eh.
This is absolutely amazing.
Thank you.
Thank you!
Just wanted to say, I appreciate with a full heart your It Will Be OK post. Thanks for giving me something to look forward this Summer.
Yay! Loving this story!
Oh my, this story is just so great! Thank you so much!
I am loving this story so much! Thank you ❤️ Y’all do such good work.
Yeah, so about that last post. I never doubted any of those questions. That’s not your style. My worst worry is that they get to meet seconds before the ending.
Will they even get to fight together their way out? Forge some kind of connection?
Will we get some vengeful satisfaction for what those traitorous sloths did?
So many worries from a distraction from Hugh 2. It might have backfired. Just saying 😂😂😂
oh, I love this 🥰🙏🏼
Can I have some more, please?
I have a new suggestion for Ada’s future. Ada and Bear for President!
Let’s see. These openings into somewhere else could be either a bridge to another spot in space or it could be another dimension. Well, we know there’s a lot of space out there. Then again, apparently there are some legit quantum theories that allow for dimensions. And if the universe is infinite, then any thing could happen. Including Lees showing up in a bridge universe to earth. No problem. I was a bit worried at the beginning that this may be a downer story. I apologize. I should have known better. This is fun.
Simply wonderful. Always wonderful. Soon another amazing book to reread at leisure.
A Lees???? or am I seeing things that aren’t there? seems like it would make sense with the uncontrolled gates, which need anchoring by Inns. hmmmm a thought. and if I took a wrong turn there, well it will just get more interesting I suppose.
A Lee????
Love the connections to the Innkeepers.
this is great. thank you. I’m guessing that others in the 300 comments have asked if these are merchants. going to enjoy the comments today
Thank you so much for this serial, I love it! The world might feel like it’s burning, but you freely give us a balm for our hurts twice a week. It is sooooo appreciated . HA is just as compassionate, courageous and open minded as Ada! Love from Montreal.
Oh, poor foxy creature! I hope she can help it.
Yeah animal rescue
Ooh…I want it to be a Lees so bad!!!!! Maybe Dina’s mom and dad are here somewhere too!
Aww, poor fox!
Hi IA and ModR – thank you again for this wonderful story… Reading the comments is a way of making Friday arrive sooner.
Ok – daughter of an editor, English major here… is the singular of lees – “lee” or is lees both singular and plural? Either “He is my favorite lees – but the lees have so many fluffy but deadly members of each Clan.” Or “This lee is special – he is about 3x as big as those in the Innkeeper books.”
Also, to the BDH – note that this particular creature is described as about the same size as Bear – who is now approx 100 lb, “it was close to Bear’s size”, so way way bigger than Cookie and Nuan.
Earlier or later version, like an Alpha Strain werewolf?
Lees is both singular and plural 🙂
Thank you!
Maybe in order to know if it is a Lees there should be more chapters faster, please. I try to build up Chapters so I can read several at once but Chapter 9 section 3 stopped in such an interesting spot – new friend or foe or Lees?; who is the red stalker?; there has to be the bad creature that everyone is afraid of. So much to learn about, I can’t wait for the next installment – pacing begins now. I am glad to see that the main character is coming into her own greatness and is still keeping her integrity!
Wow- can’t wait to read it all again! Amazing as always!
Thank you
This is very interesting, but seems like there’s a lot more to the story to tell.
in response to VA/DC/MD… I’m in TX. had a chipped tooth fixed 2day also. how odd… not wishing for Ada &Elias to meet Friday… means the end of the story is near…unless!! they get to go through adventures getting out again.
I’m sorry if I missed the post, but why are we getting a serial for this story and not Hugh 2? I’m not complaining, but I was curious. Loving this though!
Hugh 2 was announced from the beginning as “not a serial” because it doesn’t work in that format 🙂
House Andrews were generous enough to share the first few chapters with us, but the story doesn’t support the serial instalments with a cliffhanger or high point at the end of each one, and there is a lot of backtracking required.
We are getting The Inheritance because we are beloved, and House Andrews wanted us to have something to help us in periods of high stress 🤗
I never post, I normally just lurk and devour anything that House Andrews writes. But I just wanted to say I live in Doha, Qatar, and this entry popped up around the time the missiles were flying overhead (or shortly after – it was a confusing evening, so my timings may be off). You have no idea how much of a joy and relief it was to immerse myself in this world so I could escape the real one for just a minute or two. Thanks so much for writing this and everything else you create! Think I am off to comfort re-read all the Kate Daniels novels now….
Hope you stay safe 🫂
this is me shrieking. So exciting, and now, SO MANY QUESTIONS!!! SQUEEEEEE!!!
thanks for the chapter! can’t wait to buy the whole thing!
Smiles all around, and Mod R and Ilona, I hope you had as much fun and laughter reading this chapter’s BDH comments as I have! I laughed out loud several times, wandered off mentally visiting Grandmother in the Lees caravan, consulted with Cookie as he sorted fine brocaded silks and took shots from the bottle of whiskey his uncle traded with Dina for, checked in with George, who just smiled and said nothing, and finally decided just to “channel fluffiness” like a previous commentator suggested. Smiles. This was the most fun batch of comments I’ve read so far. Kudos to the BDH, rose petals tossed in the air to Mod R, and gold crowns to House Andrews. Smiles all around, it will be okay.
Aaaand the Innkeeper makes an appierance yeah
Wow!!!! Poor fox-being! I love Ada’s compassion.
My spoiler thinking.
We need some one to tell Ada what the crystal isn’t telling her. Could it be the fluff lee?????
Also she saw some one following her and she saw “red” color; Red is the hand that was in vision of the code. Coincidence, I think not.
Ada needs a game changer so she can go home with her kids. I see future rift moderator in her future bridging all the different cultures.
I can’t wait for the whole story
the fox creature sounds like he’s the same species as Nuan-Cee
Thank you HA! Ada and Bear are wonderful characters! I’m loving this story.
ModR, you need to change your avatar. I’m thinking something tasteful in the style of an Eastern Orthodox icon – the ones with the big gold halos…
If you object to Saint ModR (sainthood being posthumous in *most* religions), then perhaps you would consider the post of Keeper of the Portal?
In Norse mythology with its nine levels or realms, the realm of the humans, Midgard, is connected to the home of the gods, Asgard, by Bifrost the rainbow bridge. And the god Heimdall guards the bridge and controls access in both directions.
You sort of do the same with this website and access to HA and their multiple created realms. Although I think they only have seven so far, so they are still two short of the Norse ideal (or does Puffles count to make eight?)
Rather than a glowing golden halo, I believe Heimdall had a glowing signal horn if that helps…
I read this installment and thought… Ada’s passed the test. I think the lees was there as a test for her and she passed, because I can’t see the sapients who set the lock would torture a lees like that. But maybe I should wait to see the end of the story…
I don’t understand how Malcom died? Did he and others go back in? Please explain.
Loving the story
Malcolm was the leader of the assault team.
They went in the breach 1 hour before London, Ada and the mining team.
They never came out. When the mining team survivors made it out, Cold Chaos called the assault team on the cheesecake stone. They did not respond and were presumed dead. Then Ada confirmed it by finding their bodies.
They way they died looked very similar to the way the mining team were killed, but we don’t know the exact details.
Is this a lees?
Before we return to the day of the great Refresh, I just want to take a moment to appreciate how HA and Mod R manages the horde. Y’all quietly threw Lees-like chum into these horde-infested waters and let the horde tire themselves out trying to devour, speculate, and debate. Well played.. Well played.
I admit, I accepted the bait and enjoyed my week of musing of what could this possibly mean.
Mod R mentioned Sweep In Peace in one of her comments and down the rabbit hole I went.
Not sure whose POV we will get tomorrow. I expect we might tap in with Elias for a hot sec and get to him arrive at the mining site before we are once again denied both what he finds and his reactions to our heroes not being present.
But, who knows.. maybe we will stick with Ada/Bear for Mr. Redacted to wake up.
Anywho, after taking the bait and relistening to Sweep in Peace…
I’m still wondering if this is a Nexus-type place where Ada has found herself.
I don’t think that this the Nexus from Innkeepers, but I could be wrong.
I don’t think he’s a Quan Lees (exiled), I don’t think he’s a criminal – or not a criminal that warrants the cruelty of his captivity.
But hearing Nexus described as being rich in minerals beneath its surface does make this I might be on to something.
Anywho, I wasn’t fully distracted from “Gimme Gimme” and “where is that pre-order link?,” but overall this was a fun week of speculation.
Thanks House Andrews and Mod R. We appreciate you…even when you are being the biggest teases ever!
You’re saints, you know?
Thank you for this.